Simple Solutions to Eating Seasonally

Simple Solutions to Eating Seasonally
Local…Sustainable…Seasonal…Organic….Grass fed…Whole foods…these are just some of the buzz words that are making their way into our daily lives. Anytime change embraces us, as it has recently with better knowledge on how food and the food industry affect us, we may feel a bit overwhelmed. Many of us may even feel negative emotions such as guilt, confusion, and even doubt. My objective then becomes to provide everyday people with simple solutions to eating healthier and more sustainable choices. If change is too radical or forced, it can cause mayhem, but if there are easy affordable options for people to take part in sustaining our natural resources, moving towards greener solutions, and don’t forget in bettering our health, 8 out of 10 of us will participate and will feel great about making a difference.

It can be quite simple to make an immediate impact both for the environment and for your health. One of the easiest ways to start is by purchasing regionally seasonal foods. This does not mean you need to have intense knowledge or partake in time consuming practices; in fact, our team at Ease into Green are working hard to do that part for you. With globalization we are able to buy foods grown virtually anywhere in the world all year round, and I am not going to dispute that there are positive aspects to this, but to control any negative impact to our environments and to our own personal health, we can try to, whenever possible, eat more sustainable options. It also does not mean that if your local store has strawberries, and you really love strawberries, but they were not grown locally or in season, that you can not purchase them; rather, it just simply means to be aware and take small steps to include more seasonally local foods into your diet. Maybe you start incorporating a seasonal meal a week into your diet, or you join a CSA (food share) during the months it is available. Whatever you can do without strain, but with enjoyment, is enough. If we all start with baby steps we will be leaping forward in no time.

Why Eat Seasonal Foods?
More nutrient rich & tastes better, due to ideal soil and climate as well as less travel
Seasonal foods are more likely to be local
May take less care, using less chemicals, processing, and alteration
US regulations are stricter than many foreign areas
Food handling is better regulated
Eliminates environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles
Your dollar goes directly to the farmer
You will eat less processed and more nutritious foods
Reduces energy and CO2 emissions needed to grow and transport food
Avoid paying more for food that is scarcer or has traveled far
Support and strengthen local economy
Gain health benefit’s by following nature's cycles

Our tips:
Shop @ farmer markets and/or co-ops whenever possible
Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Watch for displays and signs that say local/seasonal items
Look at labels to see where food came from
Seek out restaurants that use seasonal and local ingredients
Find seasonal recipes and cookbooks for your region
Continue to follow Ease into Green as we offer tools and resources through our site and future newsletters
Use provided Find out More (resources and websites) at end of article to learn more

What’s in Season Now?
You may be wondering what foods are in season near you. Crop seasons vary by state so just because strawberries, for example, may be in season in one area of the country, they may not be in another.

Go to Ease into Green to see my full article with detailed lists on what is in season in yoru region!